Raphaela Karlen

Raphaela Karlen

Senior Social Protection Specialist

Raphaela Karlen is a Senior Social Protection Specialist with the World Bank’s Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice, based in Lomé, Togo. Her work is focused on developing multisectoral jobs diagnostics and strategies; strengthening the economic inclusion of the poor, women and youth; enhancing the resilience and productivity of informal sector actors; and building adaptive social safety net systems. She is currently leading productive safety net operations in Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea and is a lead author of the recently published multisectoral Jobs Diagnostic for Togo and the Urban Informal Sector Diagnostic for Côte d’Ivoire. Prior to joining the World Bank, Raphaela worked as a Policy Advisor on Local Economic Development and Decentralization at GIZ in Burundi (2014-2016). At UNDP Benin (2013-2014), she was a member of the core team that conducted the national consultations for the Post-2015 UN Development Agenda. Raphaela holds a M.A. in International Economic Policy from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris and a M.A. in International Affairs and Governance of the University of St. Gallen.